Electric letter for signs



Patented Apr. I8, |899.

c. A. CHASE. ELECTRIC LETTER FOR SIGNS.

(Application led Apr. 8, 1898.)

(H0 Model.)

@@@QUQ as co. PHOYUL CHARLES A. CHASE, OF CHICAGO, lLLlNOlS.

ELECTRIC LETTER Foe' SIGNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,275, dated April 18, 1899.

Application filed April 8| 1898. Serial No. 676,849. (No model.`,=

To m17, wit/mt it nifty concern:

lle it known that l, CHARLES A. CHASE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Letters for Signs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to letters for signs and the like, and has for 'its object to provide a new and improved letter and sign, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a view of a sign provided with letters embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of one of the let-ters shown in Fig. l with the electric lamps removed. Fig. 2S is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 2, with the electric lamps in position. Fig. 4 is a section on line 1L 4, Fig. 2.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout. the several figli res.

In carrying out myinvention l forni the face A of the letter of some suitable material shaped to represent the letter and provided with the openings A. The face A is then attached in any suitable manner to the case lS-as, for example, by means of nails or the like B'. This case B is preferably made of somethin material-such, for example, as tin, Zinc, or the like-and when the parts are in posit-ion forms an inclosing box for the sockets C, to which the electric lamps C are attached. These sockets C may be of any suitable material and are preferably made of porcelain, the ends C2 of the sockets projecting through the openings A' in the face A. The several sockets are suitably connected in circuit and are held in position by means of the back D, which is connected with the casing D in any suitable manner, the sockets C being inclosed between the face A and the back D. This face A and back D may be made of any desired material and as shown in the drawings consist of pieces of Wood cut in the desired shape. I prefer to have the openings A beveled, as shown, the ends of the sockets being also preferably beveled. By this construction a substantially water-tight joint is formed without the aid of other devices or materials. The sockets C are loose in the casing, as shown, and can be easily removed or inserted by removing the back D. The openings A' are so related to each other that when the electric lamps C' are in position and are lighted the contour of the letter will be fully presented to view. Letters of any description may be made up in this manner and may be attached in position to form advertising matter, signs, or other descriptive matter desired. By this construction the signs can be easily and cheaply changed in any manner desired by simply changing the letters. lf, therefore, a series of letters are made up, these letters may be changed around in any manner desired, so as to present different subject-matter in accordance with any desired plan. It will thus be seen that by this arrangement I am enabled to cheaply produce efficient and durable electric letters adapted to be used out of doors, such letters so constructed as to operate in all kindsof weather, the sockets and connections being inclosed in a substantiall water-tight apartment..

I have described in detail the several parts of my invention; but it is of course evident that their construction may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the construction shown.

I claim-- l.' A letter for signs and the like, compris- 'ing a face provided with a series of spaced openings arranged to form the letter desired, a casing connected with said face, a back'attached to said casing, and a series of electriclight sockets between the face and the back, the ends of said sockets projecting into the openings in said face, the back and face engaging said sockets so as to hold them in position without the aid of other holding devices.

2. A letter for signs and the like, comprising a face provided with a series of beveled openings arranged to form the letter desired, a casing connected with said face, a back attached to said casing, and a series of electriclight sockets between the face and the back, the ends 4of said sockets projecting into the openings in said face, said beveled openings being smaller at their outer ends so as to engage the socket and prevent moisture from entering the casing.

3. A letter for signs and the like, comprising a face provided with a series of beveled IOO openings arrangedv to form the letter desired, a casing connected with said face, a back attached to said casing, and aseries of electric; light sockets between the face and the back, the ends of said sockets being beveled to fit -the beveled openings in the face and projecting therein, the back engaging the base of said sockets and the face fitting around and engaging the bodies of the sockets so as to hold the sockets in place.

t. A letter for signs and the like, comprising a box containing a series of electric-light sockets loosely placed therein and connected in circuit, a series of openings in the face of said box into which the ends of said electriclight sockets project, a back upon which the base ot' the sockets rests, said face engaging the bodies of the sockets so as to hold them against said back and prevent movement thereof, and a series of electric lamps attached to said sockets and projecting from the face of said box, said sockets and lamps so arranged as to reproduce the contour of the letter when the lamps are lighted.

5. A letter for electric signs, comprising a casing containing a series of electric-light sockets loosely placed thereinand connected in circuit, a face attached to said casing and provided with a series of openingsarranged to form the letter desired and into which the ends of said electric-light sockets project, a back attached to said casing, which engages the base of said sockets, said sockets projecting into the openings in the face so that the bodies ot' the sockets are engaged by the face and firmly held against said back, a series of electric lamps connected with said sockets, said lamps adapted to reproduce the contour of the letter when lighted, substantially as described.

CHARLES A. CHASE.

Vitnesses:

DONALD M. CARTER, HoMER L. KRAFT. 

